Arsene Wenger: You will miss me when I’m gone

Arsene Wenger has warned Arsenal’s detractors to be careful what they wish for, insisting he’ll only be missed when he’s gone.

The Frenchman has suffered fierce criticism from all quarters this season, and unrest around the Emirates reached an all-time high on Saturday after the FA Cup exit to Blackburn.

Many have already written off Arsenal’s chances in tonight’s Champions League last-16 first-leg clash against in-form Bayern Munich, but Wenger remains adamant there has been an overreaction to the Gunners’ troubles and called for his record as boss to be viewed in perspective.

In form: Bayern Munich (Picture: AFP)

‘Do you think really that Bayern Munich can never lose to a smaller club in Germany?’ he asked.

‘Manchester United have lost against Division Three [York City who were in the third tier when they beat United in the League Cup second round in 1995]. That can happen. Football is not as mathematical as that.

‘What I find is absolutely unbelievable is that when it happens to me it is a complete storm. You know why? Because in 16 years it never happened.

‘In Europe, we have beaten everybody, which is what people forget. And we are the only team that has gone into a final [in 2006] without conceding a goal, despite the fact that we never have a good defensive record.’

As he made his way out of a fiery Arsenal press conference, Wenger said: ‘You will miss me when I am gone.’